T32 Data Science and Demography Training BSSR

Abstract The Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology (CSDE) at the University of Washington proposes a renewal of its Data Science & Demography Training program (DSDT) which aims to produce population scientists and demographers equipped with skills to conduct data intensive research with advanced computational and statistical methods. Demography provides a crucial interdisciplinary framework for understanding the social, economic, political, and demographic dynamics affecting patterns of disease, population health, mortality, fertility, and migration. Extracting signals from noise in the complex interplay of these processes is crucial for addressing population health research questions and requires state-of-the-art methods. DSDT prepares Trainees to tackle problems involving a wide range of complex data, including data arising from multiple sources, data not intended for research (e.g. administrative data), dynamic or spatial data, network data, and “big data’’ sources. Program partners include CSDE, eScience Institute, Center for Informed Public (CIP), Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences (CSSS), and the Population Health Initiative (PHI), together representing extensive expertise in population health, demographic methods, data science, computer science and statistical methods and with a successful record of collaboration on research and training activities, including over the last four years when DSDT was established and first implemented. Trainees take coursework in: demographic methods, advanced statistical methods and machine learning, coding, database management, data visualization, research translation, and data ethics. Trainees are mentored by teams of 2-3 Participating Faculty, developing an apprenticeship relationship with a primary mentor and learning from other faculty and trainees through collaborative projects and seminars. Research opportunities may come from collaborating centers and partnering departments, selected to provide the most relevant expertise for each Trainee, including Participating Faculty from highly-ranked departments of Biostatistics, Statistics and Computer Science & Engineering. Trainees receive hands-on experience through rotations with CIP, CSSS, eScience, PHI, and participating departments. Seminars at CSDE, CSSS, and eScience; workshops and working groups, together contribute towards skill building, reinforcing methodological rigor, and professional development. Trainees gain skills to enhance reproducibility through coursework and workshops, as well as in practice through contributing to the Population Dynamics Lab (an online publication for reproducible demographic research). After two years of training, DSDT Trainees will obtain requisite scientific experience to take on whatever challenges and complexities the data revolution next provides. CSDE requests support for 5 pre-doctoral trainees per year with total direct costs of $1,394,350.00, over 5 years.